HERE is a look at six planning stories we have covered in the Star over the past month.
These include proposals which have been submitted seeking planning permission, or that have been decided on by the local authority.
Car wash refused
Plans, submitted in February seeking permission for a hand car wash facility to continue operating at the site at 383 - 385 West End Road, Haydock, were refused.
The application had sought retrospective permission for a change of use from a car sales forecourt to a hand car wash, with a new canopy, perspex screen, and carport, and the change of use of a garage storage to a tyre shop.
In a report, he said: "The development would create poor quality design and result in visual clutter along a prominent gateway corridor, causing harm to the visual amenity of the site and surrounding area along a prominent gateway corridor".
Since refusing the plans, the Local Planning Authority has served an Enforcement Notice on the owners under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
This requires a cease of the use of the land as a car wash facility, permanent removal of the metal fence that bounds the land to the rear and side, and of the canopy comprising a plastic corrugated roof supported on a bright yellow metal frame.
Read the full story here.
Former Peacocks
Plans were submitted seeking to install extra floorspace at the former Peacocks shop at St Helens retail park for a "prospective" new tenant.
A planning application has been drawn up by UBS Triton Property Fund for the installation of floorspace at mezzanine level at the unit at the retail park off Peasley Cross Lane.
A cover letter in the plans, which did not specify who the new tenant was, said: "The application seeks permission for the creation of additional retail floorspace at mezzanine level within the existing unit A2.
"The proposed development is necessary to meet the requirements of a prospective tenant and ensure the floorspace returns to active economic use."
A decision by council planners is expected by May 23.
Read the full story here.
Moss Nook homes
A “reserved matters” planning application for 295 homes at Moss Nook has been given the green light – with the scheme described as being “great for the borough”.
An application seeking approval of reserved matters – layout, appearance, landscaping and scale – for residential development comprising 295 dwellings at the site, on Watery Lane and Providence Avenue, came before the planning committee.
Committee member Cllr Richard McCauley, who is also cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said “it’s great to see we’ve managed to get some social rent on this site”.
He also said he thinks it is a “great scheme” and “it’s great for Sutton, it’s great for the borough, the town”.
The report to the committee said the development would deliver a mixture of two, three and four-bed semidetached, detached and mews type properties, along with apartments.
Read the full story here.
Clock Face pub conversion
THE plans to convert a landmark pub into a special needs school have been given the go-ahead.
They sought permission to create a new SEND school for 54 students, with the project also including the demolition of outbuildings on the site, landscaping, parking and other associated works at the Clock Face Road location.
The Clock Face Hotel announced in March that it was to close its kitchen with the pub expected to close its doors permanently from around the end of April.
Planning officers recommended the application for approval, stating the “benefits would outweigh any harm” caused by the loss of the pub.
Planning permission was granted.
Read the full story here.
Pocket park
Proposals for a new 'pocket park' on open space and a walking and cycling path were given the green light as part of a pioneering community-led project.
At this month’s planning committee meeting held at St Helens Town Hall, applications - submitted by the local highway authority - were decided on for the construction of a pocket park facility on grassland close to Cooper Street, as well as the installation of a shared footway and cycleway on the edge of Bishop Road Playing Fields.
Plans came following a series of extensive community engagements that invited residents to "reimagine" their streets as part of the By Ours Cowley Hill Liveable Neighbourhood Project.
The pocket park will feature a path that will provide access from Cooper Street to Middlehurst Avenue, running north to south through the site – along with the installation of lighting; a litter bin and cycle parking.
The new shared use footway and cycleway facility through Bishop Road Playing Field, from Elderflower Road to Bishop Road, which will enable pupils to walk or cycle to school and support 'Bikeability' lessons, with the path also helping to reduce traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up times.
Work on Bishop Road Playing Fields will also include the installation of two litter bins; lighting columns, tree planting and a cycle parking area.
Read the full story here.
Autism College
Proposals were drawn up seeking permission to convert an office building on a business park into an autism specialist college.
Plans have been sent to the council by charitable organisation Remarkable Autism for a premises at The Parks, Newton-le-Willows.
The application is for the unit at 11 The Parks to be used as educational facility ASCENT College, at the business park site, close to junction 23 of the M6. The college would cater for 60 students, plans state.
ASCENT College currently has a premises at Wargrave Road, in Newton-le-Willows.
The planning application is on standard consultation to the public until Tuesday, May 7. A decision is expected to be made by council planners on the application by June 3.
Read the full story here.
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